Click here

Published 6:27 pm, Wednesday, March 16, 2016

BAD AXE — Huron County residents will take to the polls today to vote in the presidential primary election.

In addition to voting for either Democratic or Republican candidates, voters in two Huron County townships will decide ballot proposals.

In Hume Township, voters will be asked whether to approve 1 mill for road improvements, while voters in Port Austin Township will decide on the renewal of the current road improvement millage of 1.5 mills.

Huron County Clerk Lori Neal-Wonsowicz said that while primary elections typically see lower voter turnout, she’s hoping today’s nice weather will bring more people out.

“There’s no reason people can’t get out because of the weather,” said Neal-Wonsowicz. “We could have had last week’s weather this week. Luckily, it’s supposed to be near 60.”

Polls opened in all election precincts throughout the county at 7 a.m. and will remain open until 8 p.m.

On the Democratic ticket, there will be four candidates listed, with Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Roque de La Fuente the three active ones left. The Republican ballot will show a slew of candidates, though most have dropped out of the race. The remaining four are Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and John Kasich.

Michigan does not require voters to register as a member or supporter of a political party, so voters can choose to participate in either the Democratic or Republican party primary. By state law, this is called a “closed primary.”

When voters arrive at the polls and fill out their application to vote, they must indicate in which party’s primary they wish to vote. They will then receive a ballot listing candidates for that party.

Neal-Wonsowicz pointed out that in a closed primary, it’s not uncommon for people to get confused when they hear that voters have to declare a party.

“They’re not declaring the party that they belong to, it’s only asking which way they want to vote,” she said.